Photographic apparatus



July 8, 1941. J. K. HOLBROOK PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTQ OR Filed July 15, 1938 y 1941- J. K. HOLBO0K v 2,248,627

PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS Filed July 15, 1938 s Sheets-Sheet 2 NVEN 0R M MAL ATTORNEYS July 8,

J. K. HOLBROOK 2,248,627

PHQTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS Filed July 15, 1938 3 Sheets-$heet 3 Patented July 1941 UNl'lEDST-ATES PATENT OFFICE A 2.248.027" Q John I to Holbrook v Mleroilhns,

corporation or New York 7 Application any 1;. ms, serials. mm

i'claim. (c1; 8H4) The present invention relates to a novel and improved photographic apparatus for a'utomati cally taking pictures of a series of documents in f rapid succession.

Objects and advantages of the invention will.

be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious hereirom. or may be learned by pracin and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and togetherwith the description. serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings- Figure 1 is a schematic vertical sectional view through the present illustrative embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary schematic horizontal sectional view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1: v

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detail showing one of the film gripping clutches and its actuatin Cam:

Figure 4 is a similar view of another film gripping clutch and its cam;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detailed view of the camera shutten'. I v

Figure 6 is a fragmentary detailed view of the copy receiving frame and its actuating members;

Figure 7 in a fragmentary detailed view of the copy holding detent and its actuating members,

and Figures 3 to 7 all show the parts in the Figure 9 is an enlarged view of animage ob- V motion picture film.

the document is released from exposureposb' tion. The invention also provides an improved apparatus in which imperforate. roll film. such as16 mrm motion picture him, is used for the photographic record and the check or other copy 7 is flattened at the time of exposure, so that the film is used to best advantage to secure the best image due to the wider exposure area available and. the holding of the check in a single plane.

In accordance with the illustrative embodi mentof the invention, the check or other small document isphot'ographed on 8 or 16 mm. imperi'orate motion picture film, the check image extending transversely of the film so that a very large number of complete records may be made in a given length of him, and in many cases over 150 checks may be copied complete on one foot of 16 mm. film, or 300 on one foot of 8 mm. film. The check is received in a vertical slot formed between two pieces or glass one oi which is fixed while the other is movable toward and from it to press the check flat and when so pressed the check is in proper exposure position. parallel to the film in the focal plane of camera and at the proper distance from the lens. A lamp is provided to illuminate the check by transmitted light while being photographed and is positioned beyond the check and preferably out of line with the lens axis so that diflerent sizes of checks may be photographed without causing lens "ghosts and without losing contrast and definition in the image. Means are also provided for automatically controlling the exposure and feeding of the film and preferably comprisea photoelectric cell which is responsive to the diminution in light caused by the presence of a check in exposure position, and these means also actuate the check flattening and releasing means so that the entire recording operation takes placeautomatically upon the insertion of a check into exposure position.

Referring now in detail to the illustrative embodiment as shown in the accompanying drawings, there is provided an intermittently operating camera adapted to operate on imperforate This camera conveniently may be substantiallythat of my copending application Serial Number 194,026, filed March 5, 1938.. As embodied the camera comprises a lens it) mounted at the front of the casing H and I adapted to project the image onto the film l4 which is fed through the film gate it from spool ll onto'spool, i8. An image aperture 20 is provided at the-focal plane in plate 22 so as to'limit the image to the desired size and the film'is cludes the alternatively operated film gripping Y means 34 and 35 which press the film against the rollers 30 and 3I and hold it against movement. Between the rollers 30 and 3I is a looping mechanism including the reciprocable pin 31 mounted on plate 38 which is slidable in guides 40. As pin 3! is moved downwardly, gripping means 35 is engaged and gripping means 34 is released so that film is drawn past the aperture 20 from spool I'I. Then gripping means 34 is engaged and 35 is released as the pin 3l' moves upwardly and spool I8 takes up the film through the tension exerted by its spring drive 42. While gripping means 34 is enaged and the film I4 is held stationary at the gate is, the shutter 28 rotates to exposure position exposing the film to the lens image.

The shutter 25, and film feeding means are all operated from the main shaft 50. Shaft 50 is .i'ournalled in the side wall 5I of the camera and is externally supported in bracket 52 mounted on the base plate 53. Within the camera, shaft 50 carries a pulley 55 over which spring belt 42 runs to drive the takeup spool I8, and outside of the casing II, shaft 50 carries a mitre-gear 56 meshing with gear 58 which drives gear 5| meshing with a gear 41. Gear 58 is mounted on the shutter shaft 59 cam I by means of cam roller II mounted at the lower end of bell crank I2. Bell crank I2 is pivoted on pivot I3 and carries at its upper end the pivoted concave gripping member I4 to clamp the film I4 against the roller 30. The lower arm I5 of-the bell crank is broken but held straight by leaf spring I6 so as to allow tight engagement 7 with the film and is retracted by means of tension spring 11. b

The film gripping means 35 is actuated by com 00 on shaft 50 by similar means comprising the cam roller 3| which is rotatably supported at the lower end of bell crank 32, and bell crank 82 is pivotally mounted on pin 33 and carrie at its upper end the film engaging member 04 having a concave face to grip the film as it passes over roller 3I. The lower arm of the bell crank 82 is pivotally broken at 85 and is normally held in its straight position by means of the leaf spring 35. These gripping means are applied by the action of the cam 80, and the member 84 is moved out of engagement with the film by tension spring 01.

In front of the camera, and forming a forward extension thereof, is a rectangular casing IIO which encloses the check receiving and positioning means, as well as the lights for illuminating the check. Forwardly of the casing IIO there is supported the check-receiving and positioning means which holds the check in exposure position while it is being photographed. These 7 means comprise a glass plate III held in a fixed position parallel to the film I4 at the exposure area 20, and substantially symmetrically disposed with reference to the optical axis of the lens II, this plate being positioned at the proper distance from the lens I0 so that a sharp image is formed I upon the film I4. At each side of the plate III are spring cages I I2 mounted on the side walls of the casing I I0 and retaining compression springs II 3 which bear against the edges of the transparent glass plate II5. Plate I I5 is limited in its movement by the edges IIG of: the spring cages, while the bottom of the plate I I5 rests against the narrow ledges III. Plate III may be made of opal glass, but is preferably made of transparent plate glass.

Means are provided for bodily movement of glass plate II5 toward and from the plate III so as to firmly grip the check 8 in exposure position and flatten out any folds or creases in it, thereby placing it in a single plane and improving the sharpness of the photographic image. For this purpose, a shaft I20 is journalled in the side walls I2I of the casing I I0, and carries the spring fingers I22 which bear against the camera side of the plate II5 near its side edges. An arm I24 is connected to shaft I20 and these parts are oscillated as the cam is rotated by shaft 50. Arm I22 is pivotally connected to link 9| and the other end of link 9| is pivotally connected to the bell crank 93 carrying a cam follower 94 which bears against the surface of the cam 90.

A narrow horizontally disposed slot I30 having a flared mouth I3I i provided and extends across the top of the casing IIO, the slot being sufilciently wide to accommodate the full width of the check, and the checks to be photographed may be dropped one at a time through this slot. When so dropped, a check falls between the plates III and H5 and is held in this position by means of the pivoted stop I34 until after the exposure has been completed. Stop I 34 is mounted on shaft IN and is connected to arm I02 which is held in stopping position by means of the tension spring I03, and is retracted to allow the check to drop by means of the cam I00 acting through cam follower I04 mounted on one end of pivoted bell crank I05 while the other end of the bell crank is connected to arm I02 by link I00. After each check is released by stop I34, It drops. from the machine through slot I33 into any suitable receptacle.

For illuminating the checks while in exposure position, a lamp I40 is provided on the side of the check away from the camera and preferably within the casing H0. This lamp is preferably positioned below the optical axis of the lens I0 so that the light passing through the plates III and H5 around the upper portion of the checks is shielded from the lens I0 and does not shine directly into the lens, thereby avoiding the necessity of separately masking the plates III and H5 for different sizes of checks. For the same purpose, a blind I 4| is provided between the check and the lens, extending downwardly from the upper wall of the casing I I0 almost to the imaginary mally open relay I62.

into consideration the intensity oi. the light fromlamp I40, and Figures 3 to 7 show the parts in their respective positions at the beginning of the film feeding operation.

While the foregoing apparatus may be utilized without automatic control of its various operatlons, such automatic means are preferably provided sothat the film feeding exposing and check-releasing operations are carried out in proper succession automatically upon the insertion of a check between the plates II I and H5.

As embodied, photo-electric means are provided for automatically initiating the camera operation and these means preferably cause the one revolution clutch to be engaged when the light transmitted through. plates III and H5 is diminished by the presence of a check. Photoelectric cell I56 is positioned adjacent the lens I0 along the front of the camera casing so that light from the lamp I falls upon it with suflicient intensity to keep the one revolution clutch from being engaged except when a check H8 is in exposure position between the plates HI and H5.

Figure 8 shows a circuit diagram of the electrical connection of the apparatus. Lamp I40 is supplied with power from the mains I60 through the master switch I6I and the windings of relay I62, while the motor I is supplied with power from the mains 160 through the master switch I6! and the armature contacts I63 oi the normotor is running, but in case the lamp burns out the motor is automatically stopped. The light from lamp I40 normally shines upon the photo-cell I56 which is in series with the winding of the sensitive relay I64 supplied with power from the battery I65, and the reduction. in resistance of the cell I56 causes the armature I66 to be held against contact I61 against the action of spring I68, thereby supplying power from the battery I65 to the windings oi the relay I10 so as to hold this armature in open circuit position against the tension of spring I1l, thereby inter-= ruptlng the supply of current from the mains I to electromagnet I14. When a check I I8 is When the lamp is lit the in exposure position, the intensity of light falling on the photo-cell I56 is sufiiciently reduced so that the armature I66 moves to open circuit position, allowing the armature relay I10 to close the circuit supplying electromagnet I14 with power, and when the power is so supplied. armature I16 is attracted against thetenslon of spring I11 so as to move the stop I18 out of its latching position with reference to pin I80.

Thereupon, the motor I50 is coupled to the shaft 50. causing the shaft 50 to make one complete revolution, during which the film is fed, the check is pressed fiat, the film is exposed, and the check is released after which the shaft 50 is held against further movement by the action of stop I18 on pin I80. The mechanism is then ready for the deposit oi the next check, at which time it will repeat its cycle of operation.

Figure 9 of the drawings shows the positive of a greatly enlarged image as recorded on the film I 4, showing both the obverse and reverse of the check in superposed relation. With such an image, the obverse is easily read in the position shown, and the reverse is easily read either by viewing the film from the other side or by making a reversed print of the film.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the I scope of the accompanying claim without departing from the principles oi the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I claim is:

Photographic apparatus including a camera having film feeding means, a lens and a shutter, a lamp in front or the lens, and means for vertically supporting a translucent sheet to be copied between the lamp and lens in exposure position, means for smoothing the sheet, said lamp being positioned out of line with the lens axis whereby sheets of different size may be copied without the light passing around the edges 01' the sheet being directed away from the lens, and

means for sequentially operating the film feeding means, shutter and sheet supporting and smoothing means.

JOHN KNIGHT HOLBROOK. 

